February 13, 2019

Preserved from Corruption #

Proverbs 2:10-

Intro.

My mom did a lot of canning when I was growing up. She would boil bottles of vegetables, fruit, and even make jellies. It was a lot of work. The last thing that was needed was sealing those jars to preserve them. If they weren’t sealed, bacteria would get in there and break down the food. It would spoil. Solomon gives us a stern warning to Preserve us from Corruption.

I. Determining Factor (10) “when” #

A. “Knowledge is pleasant” #

Knowledge is the facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education

Knowledge is responsibility… and many people run from responsibility!

The more you know, the more you may have to do.

Knowledge should be pleasant! Not a burden.

Natural ability at some things.

We need to shed the entertain me mentality!

B. “Wisdom entereth into thine heart” (10) #

Wisdom is the application of the knowledge

Heart - is the center of the human emotions, thoughts, and spiritual being.

“Prov. 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:…”

Your heart determines the direction of your life.

What you think on is what you become.

II. Discernment (11) #

A. Discretion (11) #

1. Fighter Pilots underwent intense training to be able discern between enemy aircraft and friendly aircraft in minimal time. A split second could mean the difference between life and death when you are in combat. Being able to recognize friendlies and enemies is a critical skill. #

2. We are in a Spiritual Battle! #

3. Solomon in the OT was aware of this! #

a) 1Pet. 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

4. The quicker we are able to discern what is right, and what is wrong… the better off our life will be! #

5. “When wisdom entereth into thine heart”… #

B. Understanding (11) #

1. Not only were fighter pilots trained to see the enemy, they spent a great deal of time studying what the enemy aircraft were capable of doing. How tight of a turn they could make, what kind of rolls they were able to do. Understanding the path of the enemy could save your life! #

2. When we recognize the enemy, and understand his tactics, we can clearly see where they are going. #

C. Discretion and Understanding Preserve! #

1. The ability to see the enemy, and his tactics is crucial to avoiding the pitfalls of life. #

III. Distinguishing Characteristics (11-19) #

1. He lists two different characters, “evil man” (12) and the “strange woman” (16) #

A. Corrupt Communication (12, 16) #

Froward words - evil man - “speaketh froward” - froward - crooked, distorted (12)

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

a)  People that speak crooked, bad things... that comes from their
    heart! You can see clearly there is a problem.

    (1) A discontented heart complains!

    (2) A prideful heart criticizes!

    (3) A perverse heart speaks perverseness!

    (4) A crooked heart speaks of taking advantage!

b)  Listen to what is being said as a regular topic

Flattering words - strange woman

a) She will make you feel important… it is deceptive!

Psa. 5:9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

Psa. 12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

b)  Flattery is a tactic used when someone wants to get something
    from you, but they must sway you.

c)  *Flattery is a device for getting somebody to pay attention to
    what you're saying*. --- Franklin P. Jones

d)  *There is nothing so shabby and mean and nauseating as the
    spirit of flattery because its motives are always of the
    lowest*. --- James Philip

B. Corrupt Direction (13, 17) #

1. Light to darkness (13) #

2. Downward spiral #

b) There are those that are moral people (still lost, sinners)

c) This refers to a category of people that leave a moral path.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

d) A marked change in direction!

(1) Where the tide goes out

3. Forgetting, and Forsaking (17) #

4. They forsake their guide of youth #

5. Most people have a decent upbringing #

6. Most people are taught morality #

7. This person is noted, because they abandon that morality, and rebel against what they have been taught #

8. They Forget the covenant of her God #

9. They forget the Bible… #

10. ≠ rebellion, it is a slipping away, drifting #

11. When people wander away from the Bible, they obviously tend to forget what it says, and don’t live it. #

C. Corrupted mind (14, 18) #

1. Delight in wickedness (crookedness) (14) #

2. This is beyond me, I just don’t understand how anyone could delight in wickedness, but their are people like that. #

3. We are not talking about ‘joking around’, it is serious, hatred, where they are happy about wickedness. #

(2) People so demented they would take joy in wickedness.

4. Their mind, and thought process has become corrupt! #

5. Delight in death (18) #

6. Popularity of zombies, vampires, the occult, and death. #

D. Corruption of others! (15, 19) #

1. Paths (15) #

2. They are happy to show others the way to corruption! #

3. Misery loves company! #

4. No return (19) #

5. Those who are led astray… don’t recover! #

IV. Direction (20-22) #

A. Purity in the way (20) #

Why wouldn’t you want to walk in the good way?
Why wouldn’t you want to embrace righteousness?

B. Permanent (21) #

Dwelling is clearly a long term thing.

a) The idea for Solomon was living in Canaan land, for us… it is heaven!

(1) Salvation is not based on works, it is based on decisions we
    make.

(2) Jesus offers us forgiveness and salvation in that He took
    our place, paid for our sins, and rose again. He offers to
    you Salvation.

1. Cut off (22) #

a) Those who are not saved, face permanent damnation… cut off from the earth!

C. Determining factor (10) #

Prov. 2:10 ¶ When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;